ASKOMP Condemns Kwara Civil Defence Over Journalists Harassment

The Association of Kwara Online Media Practitioners (ASKOMP) has condemned the harassment, intimidation and arrest of their Chairman, Salihu Shola Taofeek, Eyitanwa Lawal of Sobi FM and Ayatullahi Salihu of Informant247 by Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).

ASKOMP Secretary, Oyewale Oyelola flanked by the association’s Financial Secretary, Nafiu Toyin Abdulqadir and Dele Obaseesin of Latest News, disclosed this while addressing newsmen at NUJ Press Centre, Ilorin on Sunday.

The umbrella body of professional Online Journalists operating in Kwara State, says the rejoinder issued on Saturday by Kwara NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Olasunkanmi Ayeni was laced with inconsistencies, falsehood and lies to cover unprofessional conducts of their officers.

ASKOMP explained that the three journalists detained by Kwara Civil Defence were responding to distress call from a relation at the Station Office of the NSCDC, wherein our Chairman (Salihu Shola Taofeek) in company of his colleagues Salihu Ayatullah and Eyitanwa Lawal a lawyer turned journalist went to get the full details of the incident.

However, they were unprofessionally oppressed, threaten with assault riffles, pounced on, beaten blue black, humiliated, thrown into the cell with suspected criminals.

They were detained for more than 7 hours (3 hours in the cell, 4 hours behind the counter) and kept incommunicado throughout, not minding the presence of their legal representatives and journalists.

We condemn this unprovoked aggression against armless journalists in its entirety. This is a further testament to the overzealousness and unprofessional conduct men of the Kwara State command of the NSCDC have come to be known for in recent times.

It’s however more nauseating the unprofessional conduct of Mr. Ayeni Olasunkanmi, the public relations of the Corps, who is notoriously for his unavailability, quackery, falsehood and lacking in basic art and act of public relations.

His watery, unprofessional, error laden multiple reaction to the incident is a clear testament to why the public perception and rating of the Kwara command is at its embarrassingly lowest ebb ever.

One wouldn’t be out of place to recommend him to enroll for basic public relations courses, where he’ll be schooled on the language usage and conduct of elementary public relations personnel, all of which he obviously lacks.

We thus with this press conference declare 100% solidarity with our members and indeed scores of hapless Kwarans, who have started coming out to confirm similar treatment from the unprofessional men of the NSCDC Kwara command.